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Reigning European champions Munster have notched up two wins out of two in this season’s Cup competition but coach Tony McGahan insists his team’s showing does not guarantee it a place in the last eight.
The Irish province have eight points after wins over Montauban (19-17) and Sale (24-16) on Sunday, but have missed out on two possible bonus points.
Sale are in second spot on five points, having picked up a bonus in their shock opening win over Clermont, who moved into third spot on four points after beating winless Montauban on Sunday.
But McGahan does not believe that a three-point lead is enough to install the reigning champions as favourites for a quarter-final berth – granted to the six pool winners and two next best finishers.
“Not at all,” said McGahan when asked if Munster were now in control of Pool 1.
“A three-point lead doesn’t give us any control. We need to go and get a result in Clermont.
“We are delighted with the win (over Sale) and this is another chapter in Munster’s great history in the European Cup.
“Sale are a great side and they proved that by coming back to 16-16.
“They certainly didn’t disappoint us and when Charlie Hodgson came on in the second half they gained some control.
“In the second half we just needed to keep on doing what we were doing and it came right in the end.
“There are still areas for improvement, but it is great to have won our first two Pool matches.
But McGahan warned that Clermont would also pose problems.
“Clermont are going to be looking to bounce back and they’re a top side,” he said.
Sale coach Philippe Saint-Andre was full of praise for Munster and also quick to defend his decision to start the game with Charlie Hodgson on the bench.
“Munster came to do a job on us and they did, especially in the first half,” the former France winger said. “They showed us how to win a game today. They were clever and crafty and did to us what we did to Clermont last week.
“Munster deserved the win because they were better than us.
“We need to be focusing on the two games against Montauban now and, if we win those two matches, we will have a quarter-final shoot-out with Munster at Thomond Park.”
Saint-Andre started the game with Dwayne Peel and Richard Wigglesworth at half-back, but the introduction of Hodgson galvanised a Sale team that had been disjointed in the backline.
“It’s always easy to speak about decisions after the game than before the game. Last week Wigglesworth did very well against Clermont Auvergne and that team deserved another chance against Munster,” the coach said.
“I make the decisions – sometimes they are right and sometimes they are wrong.
“But Charlie is a fantastic player and in the five seasons that I’ve been here he has played all the time. Today when he came on he showed what he is capable of and he tried to create a lot of things around him.
“Charlie is an intelligent guy and a hard worker. I’m sure he will be fantastic for us this year.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.